Pie crust forming machine



y 31, 1932- c. A. COSTIGAN PIE CRUST FQRMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 6 1951 IN EN OR.

B v /r ATToRzvEyaz y 1932- c. A. COS TIGAN PIE CRUST FORMING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet NVEN TOR.

2 ff ATTORNEY Cid/Jada.v

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES A. cos'rIGAn, on LOS AneELEs, CALIFORNIA PIE cnnsr FORMING MACHINE Application filed. April 6, 1931. Serial No. 527,999.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of a machine for forming pie crusts from cakes of flat cross sectlon into convex cross section, and for trimming the circular edges of the crusts subsequent to the baking of the cakes. v

A machine of this character comprehends the forming'and trimming of the pie crust cakes in rapid succession as they are removed from a baker, usually located adjacent the forming and trimming machine, together with power driven means for operating the forming and trimming elements at regularly timed intervals.

' cylinder shown at right angles to the view of the same in Fig. 3. 7

My mechanism includes a table 1 having a flat top with short legs'2, 2 at one end thereof and longer legs 3, 3 at its other end, which are extended upwardly above the table 1 and are cross connected by means of a bar 4. The legs 2 and 3 on each side of the table 1 may be cross connected by means of horizontal braces 5, 5 etc-., as shown.

I Each machine mayinclude one or any number of forming and trimming devicesxoperated from a common source of power, only two of suchdevices being shown in the drawings. Each of the forming units includes a plunger 6 which is slidable in the table 1 against the tension of a spring 7 which is coiled around the plunger and is compressed between the upper side of table 1 and suitable means such as a pin 8 carried in and projecting from" the plunger 6.

The lower end of the plunger may carry suitable means such as a pin 9 for engagement with the lower sideof table 1 for limiting the upward thrust of the plunger. Each plunger has a head 10 which, for convenience in manufacturing and assembling, may include a lower plate 11 and anupper plate 12 held on a reduced portion 13 of plunger 6 by means of a screw or screws 14, or otherwise. The plate 11 is circular and of fiat cross section, while the plate 12 has a central'flat portionparalleling the plate 11 and a beveled annular outer portion 15 with its periphery 6 flush with the periphery of the plate 11, as shown in Fig. 3.

A plunger 16 is slidably mounted in the crossbar 4 above each of the plungers 6 and has a head 17 oniits lower end to which is attached a forming plate 18 secured in place by means of a screw or screws 19 or otherwise. The plate 18 is similar in form to the plate 12 on plunger 6 and has a corresponding central fiat portion with an 1 annular 7 outer beveled portion 20 corresponding in angularity to and of equal size with the portion 15 of plate 12 so that when the plate 18 is moved into contact with the plate 12 the plates will nest snugly together. 18 is adapted to be held normally at the upper extremity of its movement, as shown'in Fig. 3, with the head 17 of plunger 16 en gaging the lower side of bar 4. I Each of the plungers 16 has a clevis 21 secured to' its up- 80 per end and a pair'of rollers 22 and 23 are rotatably held in spaced relation in said clevis on pins 24 and 25 respectively. Said rollers are frictionally engaged by the free curved end portion 26 of a lever 27 in each 5 case which is pivotally mounted at 28 on a bracket 29 attached to the top of table 1. i

The brackets 29, 29 rotatably support a transverse shaft 30 on one end of which a gear 31 is fixed in position as shown .inFig.

2. Gear 31 meshes with and is driven'by means of apinion32 carried on a transverse shaft 33 whi'ch'is journaled in bearings 34 and 35 attached to or formed on the table 1,

and power is communicated to the shaft 33 from a baker 36which is rotatabl mounted adjacent the table '1 and is provi ed 'with a large gear '37 on the lower side thereof meshing with and'adapted to drive gear .38'carried on an end of'shaft 33. Each of the T3 OFICET I The plate plates 18for trimming vided levers 27 rotatably supports a follower roll-.

er 39 held on a bolt 40 and said rollers are adapted to engage, respectively, cams 41, 41 fixed to the shaft 30 adjacent the levers 27 The heels 42 of the levers 27 are connected by means of tension springs 43 with the table 1 and serve to. hold thei'ollower rollers 39 continuously engaged with the cams 41. Said springs 43 also serve to hold the upper forming plates 18 normally in the position as shown in Fig. 8.

The cams 41, when rotated in clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3, will gradually elevate the heel portions of levers 27 and lower the portions 26 thereof as the plates 18 v are moved into operative engagement with the plates 12. f

It will be observed that the. cams 41 are formed with approach faces 44 which grad-. u-ally elevate the followers 39. to the dwells 44", said dwells may be concentric with theshatts 30- so as to hold the plates 18 and 1:2. rmi g interval of time, at the completion of which interval the followers will drop. from the dwells over straight portions 45, thus serving to quickly retract the plates 18 from fior ing position- It will he understood that the baking ele-. ment 36 isnot apart of my invention, but is used; adj acentto and in connection with my iorming. means for expediting the forming. operations. The member 86 is rotatably mounted; and, is. power driven and is provided with a plurality of hot-plates or cookerjs,'; as. at 46, on which the cakes 4-7., whichv are. shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, are. bak d: and. browned toa desired extent prior to. the forming operation.-

An operator is positioned: conveniently to the baker. 36 and the table 1 so that as suc- Gessivev cooking elements 46 are moved into positions. convenienttothe reach of the operator the baked. cakes, 47. may be removed tnom thebakerand deposited in the position shown in Fig, 3;on the forming plates12.

Associated with each of the plungers 6.is cylindrical cutting element 48 mounted concentrically with the axis-o1": plunger-6 and attached to table 11 by means of a plurality of angle brackets49. 1 The cylinders 48 are prowith recesses 50 thru which suitable implements may be inserted for securing the cylinders in operative position, and the upper edges 51. of said cylinders are concave and. cooperate with the peripheries 52 of the the cakes. 47 on the downward stroke ofthe plun'gers. 16'.

In this connection it will be noted that the plungers 6 are retractable downwardly against. the tension of their springs. 7 with n the cylinders 48 snbsequentto the engagement of: the upper forming'plates 18withthe cakes 47". The cams 41'. are so arrangedithat they willznot only depress the plates 18 into position for a predetermined engagement with the cakes 47 for forming the cakes between the beveled portions 15 and 20 of plates 12 and 18, but additionally move the two plungers downwardly over the concave cutting edge 51 of cylinder 48 so as to trim the peripheries of the cakes 47 by a shearing action. The peripheries 5.2 of Plsl eeS. .3 necessarily fit the inner peripheries of cylinders 48 snugly enough to effect the trimming of the cakes.

The-dough of which the cakes are made is provided with certain ingredients such as a suitable amount of sugar, which will lend flexibility to the cakes sufficient to permit the bending -of the cakes in the formingoperation. he forming m mb rshm and 18; a held i e tact W th he akes fer asufficient length of tim o. insure. ret ntion on: the forms occasioned.- y he members: 12 1.8.

I 11 provid th lower twin g plates ll. with one or more strippingdevices-,asshow'n; in. Fig. 3-. Ea h o aid-de ic s: hasa hea 53: which projec s inward y apen ture n the forming p ate .2; and a. stem .4: which isslidably held th plate 1 A snring 55 is; compre s d betw enthe head 53 11. The purpose of these stripping devices is; to separate the crusts from the forming plates at the ends 01% aformihg'op ration. so that the crests may be readily BBHlQMGClZ and will not adhere to the forming plates.

At the completion. of each. forming operation the cakes are removed and. others are positionedi between the forming members, .as hereinbefore described, for sucoessiue opera.- tions.

It-will be apparent that I have provided simple, effective and economical meansfon forming and trimming pie crust cakes; in. the manner described; and it will be understood. that the forming-0t the cakes147j must neces sarily be-v done while the cakes: arehot in or-. der to prevent the breakingofi the cakes: in theforming operation.

What I'claim is: V r

1. A pie crust forming machine comprising a table, a rotatable shaft thereon-,a yieldable formingmember on said table,- a poweroperated forming. member alined with said yieldable member, a cam on saidflshaft, and means associated; with and operable by said cam for moving said power operated memb t .v p r ti e r ation. with. said] yieldable me be d- 1". furth r. m ving, said forming memberstogether, when: a-crlist is held between said member'fi for. forming the crust.

2-1 pie us ormi g machi e as hamee ized in im 1,. udingmeans for re;

storing said forming members to normally spaced positions at the completion of each forming operation.

3. A pie crust forming machine comprising a table, a rotatable shaft thereon, a cam on said shaft, a lever pivotally mounted on said table in engagement with said cam, a plunger connected with an end of said lever, a forming plate on said plunger, a second forming plate supported on the table in alinement with the first plate, whereby a pie crust of fiat cross section may be positioned between said plates, means for yieldably supporting the second plate for movement with the first plate during a forming operation, said cam serving to move the first plate into operative relation with a crust and the second plate for molding the crust into desired form.

4. A pie crust forming machine comprising a supporting member, a pair of forming elements mounted thereon for receiving a pie crust therebetween, means for moving one of said forming elements into cooperative relati on with the other forming element for forming the crust, means for permitting the yielding of said other forming element for move ment with the movable forming element, and a tubular cutting member having a cutting edge cooperating with the periphery of said movable forming element for trimming the crust near the end of a forming operation.

5. A pie crust forming machine comprising a table, a pair of opposed forming plates axially alined and normally spaced apart on said table, for receiving a crust therebetween, one of said plates being power operated and the other plate being yieldable with the other plate when a crust is held therebetween,means for applying power to the power operated plate for operatively holding the plates in engagement with opposite sides of a crust in a forming operation, means for holding said plates so engaged for a sustained interval of time for molding the crust into adesired form, and means concentric with said plates and cooperating therewith to trim the periphery of the crust before the completion of the forming operation.

6. A pie crust forming machine comprising a table, a pair of axially alined plungers mounted thereon, forming plate of corresponding cross section on said plungers, means for yieldably supporting one of said forming plates in position to receive a crust preparatory to a forming operation, means for moving the other plate into cooperative relation with said yieldable plate and for further moving both of said plates and the crust therebetween together to complete a forming operation, and means associated with said ably mounted thereon and axially alined for receiving crusts therebetween, means for moving one of said members into operative relation with the other member and for further moving said members together when a crust is held therebetween for molding the crust into desired form, and a cylindrical cutter cooperating with said forming members for trimming the edge of the formed crust as said members are moved together.

8. A pie crust forming machine comprising a table, a rotatable shaft thereon, a cam on said shaft, a lever pivotally'mounted on said table in engagement with said cam, a plunger connected with an end of said lever, a forming plate on said plunger, a second forming plate supported on the table in alinement with the first plate, whereby a pie crust of flat cross section may be positioned between said plates, means for yieldably supporting'the second plate for movement with the first plate during a forming operation, said cam serving to move the first plate into operative relation with a crust and the second plate for molding the crust into desired form, and a tubular cutter alined with said forming plates and supported on said table and provided with a cutting edge cooperating with the edge of said first mentioned plate, for trimming the edge of the crust during the forming operation.

9. A pie crust forming machine comprising a pair of axially alined plungers, means plates when the plates are moved in a forming operation for trimming the edge of the crust.

CHARLES ACOSTIGAN.

plates and operative near the completion of a f 

